Saturday, Sept. 12 – Saturday Before the Exaltation of the Cross
5:00 PM Mission Divine Liturgy at St. Raphael’s
Sunday, Sept. 13 – Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross
8:00 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Sept. 14 – Exaltation of the Holy, Precious and Life-Giving Cross
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – Nicetas, the Great Martyr
6:30 PM Akathist* and Discussion for Addictions and Mental Illness
Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Euphemia Great- Martyr
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy
7:30 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Sept. 19 – Saturday After the Exaltation of the Cross
5:00 PM Mission Divine Liturgy at St. Raphael’s
Sunday, Sept. 20 – Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross
8:00 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com
St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment St. Raphael’s: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment
(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)
The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Diana Mina, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr. John Mina, Charlene Niemi, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Shannon O’Neill, Fern Bonowicz, +Anne Petach, Jenny Roman, Nicolese Salazar, and All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,310.00; Mission: $1,032.25; Online: $1,104.00; Church Improvments: $100.00; Candles: $65.00; Parish Socials: $50.00; Building Fund: $385.00;
Total: $4,335.89 / Attendance – PSM: 78 SRM: 58
September 14 marks the second great feast of the liturgical year, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Cross was being broken into small pieces to provide relics for churches and the devout by the 340s. The remaining main part of the Cross was lost after the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem in 1187.
During the Vigil, a cross is placed on the Holy Table / altar where it reposes during the Vigil. This cross is placed on a tray that has been decorated with fresh basil leaves and red and white flowers. The cross reposes on the “High Place” of the Holy Table, where the Gospel Book would normally be. Basil is used because this plant’s name means “king” and Jesus is our true king, and because it is associated with Mount Calvary, where our Lord was crucified.
At Matins, the transfer of the Cross takes place. After the Great Doxology the priest brings the Cross out of the sanctuary, led by candle-bearers and the deacon with incense. He sets the cross on the tetrapod, which always stands in the center of Byzantine-Ruthenian churches, as the choir sings.
The special “Exaltation” is then celebrated, echoing the one done in Jerusalem. This consists of the priest taking the cross in his hands and lifting it above his head. At the prayer sung by him or the deacon, the people sing “Lord, Have Mercy”. As they sing, the priest slowly blesses the congregation, and then bows down to the ground and up again, lifting the cross on high. This process is repeated four times to the four points of the compass.
Everyone bows during the singing of “We bow to Your Cross, O Lord” and stands up at the following verse “and we glorify Your holy resurrection.”
The cross will remain in the center of the temple throughout the octave and the faithful will venerate it whenever they enter or leave the church. Finally, on the leave-taking of the Feast, the priest and deacon will cense around the cross, there will be a final veneration of the cross, and then they will solemnly bring the cross back into the sanctuary through the Royal Doors.
Many churches are named in honor of this feast, the most important to our Church being the Cathedral of the Mukachevo Eparchy, the mother diocese of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh, in the city of Uzhhorod. In this cathedral, a special reliquary with a sliver of the True Cross is exposed in a glass-enclosed box over the Royal Doors of the iconostas.
Read more at ephx.org
“Certainly, God did not send his Son into the world to judge world, but so that the world should be saved through him.” Christ is truly the salvation of the world. As Christians, we are called to be little Christs. Each of us can bring salvation to the world by living the life of Christ. Is God calling you to show his salvation to the world by a life of prayer and repentance as a priest, deacon, monk or nun? To learn more, contact the Vocations Office at 602-861-9778 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Sunday, September 13 –
